Chain digger attachment

Abstract

A chain digger attachment (10) for boom (11) mounted operation with disconnectable couplings (13, 66, 67), the attachment having a chain (17, 60) extended about sprockets (19,23,61,83) on a telescopic support frame(14,64,65) having sideways feeding discharging augers (27,28,81,82), clearing ploughs (72) and elongate chain guard (73) along the return reach of the chain (60).

I claim: 
     
       1. A chain digger attachment for a boom mounted operation comprising: a support frame;   a disconnectable coupling means on said frame for operatively connecting said frame to an articulated boom on a movable support vehicle;   guide means mounted on said frame, and a digging chain passing over and engaging said guide means for movement thereby;   a source of motive power mounted on said frame and drivingly connected to one of said guide means for rotating said guide means and said digging chain;   a source of pressurized fluid for operating said source of motive power, and coupling lines connected to said source of pressurized fluid and provided with disconnectable connection means for disconnecting fluid pressure to said source of motive power to enable dismounting of said attachment; and   at least one ground engaging projection mounted on said support frame comprising a pusher foot through which the boom engages the ground, said foot permitting said support vehicle to be pushed forwardly of a trench being formed by the attachment while the operator remains in a position to operate said digging chain.   
     
     
       2. A chain digger attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide means are held at spaced positions by an elongate support frame, and means for adjusting said elongate support means to vary the spacing. 
     
     
       3. A chain digger attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pusher foot is provided on each side of the support frame adjacent the disconnectable coupling means. 
     
     
       4. A chain digger attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pusher foot is provided on each side of the attachment adjacent the disconnectable coupling means, each said pusher foot comprising a transversely oriented arcuate ground engaging member mounted on a shaft which is received in a holding means therefor mounted on said attachment, and means for retaining said shaft at a selected point along said holding means. 
     
     
       5. A chain digger attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacing between the sprockets is varied by an internal ram that telescopes the elongate support frame. 
     
     
       6. A chain digger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guide means comprise sprockets, the spacing between the sprockets being varied by an internal ram that telescopes the elongate support frame. 
     
     
       7. A chain digger as claimed in claim 3, further including means for adjustably mounting said pusher feet to said support frame, adjustment of said feet permitting the depth of said trench to be variably selected.